Featured Speakers

Opening General Session Wednesday, October 10 The Art of Leadership Bill Strickland, President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation Imagine earning a MacArthur Genius grant, a Grammy award, an invitation to lecture at Harvard University, and a seat on the board of the National Endowment for the Arts by turning a near bankrupt community training center in Pittsburgh into one of the most successful organizations in America - starting from a sleeping bag on the second floor of a dilapidated building.

Through the power of his vision, the consistency of his purpose, and an undying belief in the goodness of human beings, Bill Strickland, President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, restores faith in ethical, accountable, and visionary leadership. His organizations have created a model for arts, education, training, and, most importantly, hope—and have reshaped the business of social change in America. Ohio 's public libraries are continually challenged by the needs of their communities—offering more service, more resources, and more programming with less money, less staff, and less training. However, the challenges facing public libraries can sometimes make it difficult for staff to reach their fullest potential. Strickland's simple message—give people the tools they need, treat them with respect, and they will perform miraculous deeds—is as simple as it is profound. A compelling and powerful storyteller, he mesmerizes audiences, and brings them to their feet in appreciation. His simple message of leadership through believing in people and treating them with respect strikes a universal chord. Strickland will teach and inspire participants to see the real person, and harness the power of believing in people.

Closing General Session Friday, October 12 Life is Change Judson Laipply, Nationally-renowned Motivational Speaker and Creator of “Evolution of Dance” Anyone working in a public library—whether for three years or 30 years—knows that change is inevitable. However, not everyone is able to embrace change for the adventure it truly can be.
Judson Laipply's life has been full of change—especially career changes that have led him to work on a cruise ship, at a camp in Colorado, as an Aerobics instructor, as a published poet, as a part-time auctioneer, and as a weekly columnist.
Through laughter, story telling, personal examples, and crowd participation, Laipply will inspire participants discover the power of choice and how that influences each person's life. His vast array of experiences allow him to apply his life philosophy, “Life isn't always the party we hoped for but while we're here, we might as well dance,” to any audience. His finale, “The Evolution of Dance,” is requested by audiences everywhere he goes and has been seen on Good Morning America, Today, Inside Edition, and Fox News.

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